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Today's News

Kate Kurtenbach, make no bones about it, relishes the opportunity. The senior guard wouldn’t have it any other way, being put in the position to close out a Chatfield victory. That’s where she was on Feb. 18 in the host Lady Chargers’ regular-season finale with rival Columbine.

With the Lady Rebels nipping away at what had been a Chatfield lead for most of the second half it was up to Kurtenbach to finish off the eventual 40-35 victory and she did.

Jeffco Public Schools is considering making more staff cuts, charging for student transportation, and increasing fees for extracurricular activities in the wake of a proposed state budget that could reduce district revenue by $37 million.

Following the unveiling of Gov. John Hickenlooper’s proposed budget on Feb. 15, which cuts $332 million statewide in K-12 funding, Jeffco began preparing budget recommendations to deal with the cuts. Among the effects, student-teacher ratios are expected to increase throughout the district.

The trial of alleged Deer Creek Middle School gunman Bruco Eastwood was postponed last week by more than six months, following approval of a request from the prosecution to have the suspect’s mental health re-evaluated.

Eastwood, who faces 15 charges, including four counts of attempted murder, waived his right to a speedy trial. The original trial date of March 8 was rescheduled during the Feb. 18 motions hearing to Sept. 16.

The move came almost a year from the Feb. 23, 2010, shootings, which injured students Matt Thieu and Reagan Weber.

Negotiations over the joint purchase of former Rocky Flats land unraveled this week, after Boulder officials voiced continued opposition to the Jefferson Parkway toll road being constructed nearby.
Since the government entities — Boulder, Boulder County and Jeffco — tentatively agreed late last year to the idea of collectively funding the purchase of the wildlife refuge known as Section 16, a concrete arrangement has yet to be formed.

The Lariat Loop has launched a new name and a membership campaign to help promote businesses and historic sites along the 40-mile scenic route through the foothills.

The group's new theme, "Lariat Loop, 40 miles of Western adventure," will be launched this spring as part of a cooperative brand marketing campaign to go along with its more visible status as a tourist destination.

WESTMINSTER — Tony Campton knows what it feels like to be a regional wrestling champion. The Columbine 285-pounder did it a year ago. But this season, his senior year, winning it again would be something special. So, he made sure he went out a winner.

Campton, who recently signed his letter of intent to play football at CSU-Pueblo, used a methodical game plan to take down Kyle Jamison of Central-Grand Junction, pinning his foe in 5 minutes, 7 seconds of the 5A Region 2 finals at Westminster High School on Feb. 12.

Former Jeffco Commissioner Kathy Hartman was hired by the district attorney’s office recently as director of diversion services for Jefferson and Gilpin Counties.

Hartman will begin the new position on March 1, heading 20 staff members.

The diversion program provides nonviolent, first-time felons with opportunities to give restitution and seek appropriate professional treatment. Successful participants in the program are eligible to have felonies erased from their records.